You’ve probably never heard the name, Jerry Ambler. As you can see in this 1947 ad, he was a bronc-riding star, winning the North American Saddle Bronc title in 1941 and 1946. Born in Alberta, Canada, Ambler became the best of the best. The Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Jerry’s asserts that his greatest achievement came in 1946 when he was declared the World’s Champion Saddle Bronc Rider. Though the ad seems to imply his experience with off brand smokes was during service in WWII, I find no record of military service, only rodeo competitions. Perhaps simply the rationing of cigarettes was enough to make him long for Camels.
As often happens with spokespersons in these post-war Camel ads, they pass from cancer. Ambler did not. A car accident took his life at the age of 47. Let’s hope that during those years, the Camels pleased his T-Zone and took the edge of a long day in the saddle. As the years pass by, fewer and fewer of us remember how important the T-Zone was back in the day.
Our collective perception of cigarettes has changed so much since this ad was published, when doctors both smoked and endorsed cigarettes.
Cigarette sales peaked in 1981, and have been falling ever since. In a world of manufactured viruses and death by Grand Canyon selfies, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death, and these ads remain an interesting testimony of the world that was.
I Don't Get It 
wow, the t-zone. i remember the old cigarette ads, made them look so glamorous or macho.
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Absolutely! They were very effective.
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“During the war” not “when I was serving in the military.” Some careful wording there. I wonder what folks were smoking before the war that was so terrible that they switched because of availability but never went back? My Dad, a doctor, was one of those who smoked Camels in the 50s and 60s before quitting. First ciggie I ever snuck (from my Mom’s stash) was a Camel, fired it up behind the garage and it damn near killed me with gagging.
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I imagine everyone gagged the first time. Kind of like that first sip of beer. So it didn’t take?
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I don’t recall much negativity with that first beer, thanks very much.
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Hmmm. It seems even then, “doctors” would recommend putting something into your body that was sheer poison! Calling Dr. Fauci.
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Ha!
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I hated the ever-present stink in my house when both of my parents smoke like chimneys, Kerbey. Oy.
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Man, you’ll never forget that smell.
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